The official word from Toys 'R' Us right now is that of their 675 stores, they will be closing 75 of them, and converting another 12 to Babies 'R' Us. They have not officially listed the stores that they are closing at this time. They state that 3,000 employees will lose their jobs as a result of this move.

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It's funny, usually TRU is the last to get new stuff, but they are the only place that I've seen the new SAGA figures. I'd like to be a bigger fan of the store becuase I grew up going to TRU and bought some of my earliest Star Wars (Vinatge) figure there. But the chain doesn't seem to be very with it. To me, they lost the plot back when they got rid of the nice, organized isles, and replaced them with mazes.

This is only my opinion. TRU closings are not good for anyone who collects. It eliminates stores that provides options and product for us to buy. Regardless of past experiences, TRU stores closing are not good. The day is rapidly coming where it will be only Walmart and Target that will carry the line, with each region have their own local stores that seem to carry the line; more so in a movie year, less in non-movie years. When that day comes, competition will become even much more fierce. What is even scarier is that when we come down to two national retailers (three I guess if you include Kmart which I don't), when the day comes that the line is not "profitable" for one or the other retailer, the store's toy buyers will stop carrying the line and that will effectively kill the line. So though the line will continue to do well over the next two years, I guess what I am saying is that in my opinion, the consolidation of stores does not bode well for the long term health of the line.

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"For too long gentleness has been equated with weakness. Yet it takes more strength to be gentle than to be mean."

SilverZ

The one closest to me is closing. I pulled up to it on Saturday and was surprised to see "store closing all items 10-30% off" all over the place. Oddly enough, they had Titanium in stock. The Falcon still isn't a deal unless they hit major firesale prices.

There are only two other TRU's in reasonable driving distance. It's a very strange call to close one here at all, though the store itself looks very old and was probably the best choice if they had to kill off one store in the area.

It's really a shame that TRU for most of a collecting year is a non-player in my hunts. Rarely do they get figures before WalMArt or Target. The high prices I can live with because if I can find them at TRU right off the back without driving all over the place then it is well worth it.

And the lack of restocking isn't just a problem with the Star Wars section. It seems to transend the entire boys department. The Girls department, books/movies and toddler items are usually in good shape in TRU.

And the item that are in stock in the boys section tend to be movie related items that just peg warm because kids aren't interested. Fantastic Four and King Kong currently are clogging shelves at my two local TRU.

I think that's good news. I know a lot of people weren't upset when KB went out earlier this year but honestly, I think it's still important to have toy only stores around and if one can still stand with Walmart and Target, it benefits us in the end.

FAO is a worldwide recognizable name so that alone should help TRU breathe some life into it. Hopefully with the buying power that TRU has for day-to-day toys it'll help the two FAO stores be a little more competitive while still offering the high end stuff that the store was known for.

E...

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